Never buy jam again – make this versatile compote instead!

Katie Rainbird's simple recipe for fruit compote is a fantastic way to use up your leftover fruits and you'll be surprised how many uses there are for it. Whip up a batch and tell us how you use yours!

Fruit compote is such a simple yet rewarding way to twist fruit up into a special treat. And, with late summer stone fruit and berries abundant and reduced in price at present, it’s one of my favourite ways to ensure none of it goes to spoil!

How to make fruit compote

The compote pictured throughout consisted of:

half bunch of rhubarb, cut into 2cm lengths

1 punnet strawberries, trimmed and quartered

4 tbsp raw sugar

1 over-ripe yellow nectarine

Method:

Give the fruit a thorough rinse, then simply pile all into a medium-sized saucepan.

Add the raw sugar to the pan, turn the heat on low and pop the lid on. When it starts to bubble, remove the lid and allow to simmer away for about 20 minutes – done!

Notes:

You can eat it straight away, of course, but I let mine cool, then store in the fridge to use as I would jam or fresh chopped fruit.

You can use whichever fruit you like: apples, pears, nectarines, peaches, apricots, berries, dried fruit, add some spice or citrus rind, a dash of vanilla … the possibilities are endless!

The sweeter the fruit, the less sugar you’ll need. I only used 4 tbsp of sugar because rhubarb is quite tart. You can start with 1 tbsp and taste-test, then work from there.

A budget-savvy substitute to jam

I got to thinking about using compote as a jam substitute when my four year old went through a jam sandwich phase. Even though you have to sweeten a compote with some sugar, it’s far, far less than is used to make jam, and without all the other ingredients. And you can choose which fruit and from which source.

Organic strawberry compote for only as much as the price of a punnet? No worries!

Jamwich!
Image by Katie Rainbird.

Yummy ways to use your compote

I’m certain there are many other jam sandwich (or ‘jamwich’ as I call them!) fans out there and with back-to-school upon us, wouldn’t it be nice to send them along with a homemade fruit spread sandwich in their lunch box?

Or you might …

Dollop it atop their breakfast toast or crumpets

Add it to porridge or muesli

Blend with some milk and yoghurt into a smoothie for an after school snack

Stir it through a muffin batter

Serve it alongside a scoop of ice cream or yoghurt

Compote crumpet.
Image by Katie Rainbird.

Compote is so easy that bigger kids can make it by themselves, and I think the transformation that fruit takes on as it softens and blends into a thick and sticky sweet concoction is just lovely. The colours deepen, the aroma intensifies and it just looks so tempting.

Go on and give it a whirl and see what you can come up with to serve it.

We’d love to know how you like to use compote! Share your recipe and serving ideas below …